Military CRM skills are relevant

Sir - I refer to the letter from Christopher Tzakis (Flight International, 28 February-5 March, P37).

He has no concept of the operation of single-seat fighters. After 20 years in the Royal Air Force, flying such aircraft and, then, the Boeing 747 and the Airbus A330 and A340 with a major airline, I can assure him that running a "one-man show" is not more acceptable in military aviation.

Single-seat military aircraft are generally operated in formation, requiring a great deal of "crew-resource management [CRM], co-ordination and co-operation". We called CRM leadership, teamwork, communication, resourcefulness, etc, for which every pilot is assessed annually. The smooth flying required in cloud with other aircraft in close formation would not have resulted in any spilt champagne - had there been any!

MIKE METCALF

Hong Kong

Source: Flight International